Vent adaptor for a respiratory therapy system

Abstract

A vent adaptor for a for a respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) system, the vent adaptor comprising: a vent assembly comprising: a vent housing defining a central orifice for the flow of pressurized gas to pass through the vent assembly from the delivery conduit to the patient interface, the vent housing having an annular surface around the central orifice, and the annular surface having a plurality of holes to discharge pressurized gas to atmosphere; and a membrane positioned adjacent to the annular surface; a heat and moisture exchanger (HME); and a diffusing member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for delivery of pressurized air to a patient to treat a sleep-related breathing disorder, the system comprising:
 a respiratory pressure therapy device including:
 a blower configured to pressurize a flow of air to a treatment pressure; 
 an outlet opening configured to direct the flow of air at the treatment pressure out of the respiratory pressure therapy device; 
 a seal portion surrounding the outlet opening and having a bellows shape or a partial bellows shape; and 
 a first latching portion; and 
 
 an air circuit comprising:
 a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end; 
 a fluid conduit connector connected to the first end of the fluid conduit, configured to removably connect to the respiratory pressure therapy device, and including:
 an inlet opening configured to receive the flow of air at the treatment pressure from the outlet opening; 
 a sealing surface surrounding the inlet opening and configured to engage the seal portion to form a face seal to seal the flow of air at the treatment pressure traveling from the respiratory pressure therapy device to the fluid conduit when the fluid conduit connector is removably connected to respiratory pressure therapy device; and 
 a second latching portion configured to engage with the first latching portion to removably connect the respiratory pressure therapy device to the fluid conduit connector; and 
 
 a vent adaptor connected to the second end of the fluid conduit, configured to removably connect to a patient interface worn by the patient during treatment to direct the flow of air at the treatment pressure from the respiratory pressure therapy device to the patient, and comprising a plurality of vent holes. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface is flat. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to a direction of the flow of air at the treatment pressure traveling from the respiratory pressure therapy device to the air circuit. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface is bevelled. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit connector includes a tube that forms the inlet opening and the sealing surface is formed on a flange that extends radially from the tube at the inlet opening. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the flange extends substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the flange is recessed from an end of the tube. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the tube is configured to extend at least partially into the seal portion when the first latching portion is engaged with the second latching portion. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion is compliant in a direction of engagement between the respiratory pressure therapy device and the fluid conduit connector. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion includes a frustoconical portion. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the frustoconical portion is configured to contact the sealing surface to form the face seal when the respiratory pressure therapy device and the fluid conduit connector are removably connected. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion includes a partially spherical surface. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the partially spherical surface is configured to contact the sealing surface to form the face seal when the respiratory pressure therapy device and the fluid conduit connector are removably connected. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion is configured to engage the sealing surface before the first latching portion and the second latching portion engage, when the respiratory pressure therapy device and the fluid conduit connector are removably connected. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion is configured such that a force required to compress the seal portion is less than a force required to engage the first latching portion with the second latching portion. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit connector comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being rotatably coupled to the outer portion. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sealing surface is formed on the inner portion. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the inner portion is rigidly connected to the fluid conduit. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second latching portion is formed on the outer portion. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second latching portion comprises a cantilevered portion with a protrusion that is configured to engage the first latching portion, and
 wherein the cantilevered portion is configured to be depressed to engage or disengage the second latching portion from the first latching portion and allow engagement or disengagement between the respiratory pressure therapy device and the fluid conduit connector. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory pressure therapy device comprises a flange around the outlet opening and the fluid conduit connector comprises a stop surface configured to contact the flange to constrain the fluid conduit connector from moving in a direction of engagement between the respiratory pressure therapy device and the fluid conduit connector. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory pressure therapy device forms a female connection and the fluid conduit connector forms a male connection. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory pressure therapy device includes a port in fluid communication with an interior of the seal portion. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent adaptor comprises an elbow connected to the second end of the fluid conduit. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent adaptor comprises a tube configured to removably connect to a connection port of the patient interface.